George V

(1865 –1936) succeeded Edward VII in 1910. From 1877 to 1891, he served in the Royal Navy, which according to his father was “the very best possible training for any boy”. Together with his brother he toured the colonies of the British Empire among which Australia. In 1901, George as Prince of Wales, and his wife May toured the British Empire. Their tour included Australia, where he opened the first session of the Australian Parliament upon the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia. In 1931 he recognized in the Statute of Westminster the dominions of the Empire as separate, independent states within the Commonwealth of Nations.